Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Arcadia
Part of Florida’s frontier and a bustling center for the cattle industry in the 1800s, Arcadia feels authentically Old Florida.
Downtown Arcadia is a delight for history buffs and shoppers who love browsing for antiques, and the historic residential districts have many gems.
The Peace River occasionally goes dry, which is when fossil-hunters arrive to scour the shallows. Otherwise, it’s a popular paddle.
Canoe Outpost Peace River can put you out there for a day trip or a multi-day adventure.
Trails and Parks Near Arcadia
Archbold Biological Station A pair of short loops provide close observations of rare scrub habitats at a historic research facility on the Lake Wales Ridge south of Lake Placid. 
Babcock Ranch Ecotour Trail At Babcock Ranch Preserve, the Ecotour Trail is a no-cost option to getting your feet wet on an exploration of wet flatwoods habitats along a pathway through the palmetto prairie.
Babcock Ranch Footprints Trail Following old forest roads, the purple-blazed loop of the Footprints Trail through the heart of Babcock Ranch, a vast prairie punctuated by cypress strands, provides a simple introduction to this often-squishy ecosystem.
Brownville Park Upriver from Arcadia, this 75-acre county park in the Peace River floodplain with fascinating geologic features centers on camping, paddling, and fossil hunting.
Morgan Park On an easy-to-follow trail network, enjoy exceptional views of the Peace River from surprisingly high bluffs just west of downtown Arcadia.
Myakka Hiking Trail For immersion in the vast central prairies of the Florida peninsula, the 39-mile Myakka Hiking Trail is a serious backpacking destination in South Florida near Sarasota.
Myakka River Canopy Walk At Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, the Canopy Walk provides a sky-high view of the Myakka River basin as well as an intimate immersion in the live oak canopy in a beautiful hammock of oaks and palms. 
Myakka River State Park With tall waving grasses, saw palmetto, and the sound of birds, Myakka River State Park is Florida's Big Sky country, blanketing more than 37,000 acres east of Sarasota.
Pioneer Park A surprisingly scenic walk along the Peace River and through its floodplain, the loop trail at Pioneer Park starts and ends near the Cracker Trail Museum at Zolfo Springs.
Solomon’s Castle A glimmering monument to recycling and ingenuity, Solomon's Castle is a quirky work of art. A nature trail leads along the forested edge of Horse Creek.Articles
A Peaceful Donation (10/27/2014) A donation of the 4,171 acre Peaceful Horse Ranch on the Peace River was turned down by DEP two years ago. It was just accepted as a future Florida State Forest